A crawford



Jan. 31, 19 39; (jRAWFORD 2,145,754

I STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 21, 1957 l2 Sheets-Sheetl l y 44 I I Jan. 31,1939.

A. CRAWFORD STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 21, 1957 I AI36 12 Sheets-Sheet '2 lllllullllln 11.1 uuunxnQ J'm'sl, 1939. A.cRAwFoRb 2,145,754

STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES I Filed April 21, 1937 I 12SheetsSheet s Jan. 31, 1939.

STOP MOTION- FOR KNITTING MACHINES A. CRAWFORD Filed April 21, 1937 12Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 31, 1939. A. CRAWFORD 2,145,754

STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 21, 1957. 12 Sheets-Sheet5 Jan. 31, 19,39. A, CRAWFORD STOP MOTION FORKNITTING MACHINES 21, 193712 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April JmhmG IWW .2? WW Jan. 31, 1939. v A;CRAWFORD I 2,145,754

STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES V Filed April 21, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet7 Jan. 31, I CRAWFORD STOP MOTIONIOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 21,1937 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Jan. 31, 1939.

CRAWFORD 2,145,754 I STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 21;1937 12' Sheets-Sheet 9 Jan. 31, 1939. A CRAWFORD STOP MOTION FORKNITTING MACHINES l2 Sheets-Sheet l0 filed April 21, 1937 STOP MOTIONFOR KNITTING NACHINES Filed April 21, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet ll Jan. 31,1939.

CRAWFORD STOP MOTlON FOR KNITT ING MACHINES l Filed April 21', 1937 12Sheets-Sheet 12 Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs2,145,154 sror MOTION son mn'mc moms Alfred Crawford, New Brnnswi ck, N.1., allllnor to Crawford Manufacturing Company, New Brunswick, N. 1., acorporation of New Jersey Application April 21, 193 Serial No. 138,248

12 Claims.

' regularities in a, number of individual threads.

which are simultaneously'ied to the needles of the 1 knitting machine.These detectors, in the 7 case noted, revolve about a common axis, colincident with the axis of the needle cylinder with the revolving camring. Thesedetectors form .part of an electrical system which alsoincludes 9 -a motor unit. The motor unit actuatesa trip shaft foreffecting stopping of the machine when any irregularity occurs in thetension or con-V 'tinuity of any one of the knitting threads.

The trip shaft and its actuating motor also revolve about the axis ofthe machine, with the cam ring, and upon operation of the trip motor thetrip shaft is released and this in turn releases a plunger which dropsinto notches formed in a floating ring concentrically mountedwithrespect to the axis of the ,machine. The floating ring normally remainsin a quiescent state in 3Q the bed of the machine.

The floatingring is connected to the mechanical power or drive controlunit and when said ring is caused to rotate with the cam ring by thetrip plunger dropping into one 01! the notches or the ring, as abovenoted, the ring will cause actuation of the power control unitandconsequent stopping of the machine. 5 1

The above described arrangement, while it is quicker in action than theusual iully mechanical stop motions'commonly used, nevertheless, is notquick enough to prevent press-oils from a relatively large number ofneedles if the knitting threads break relatively close to the threadguides which deliver the threads to the needles.

The'above condition is directly due to the-tact that there is a certainamount of elapsed time between the operation of the trip shaft and. the

' operation of the floating ring, while the trip plunger is makingdriving connection with and cansing rotation ofthe floating ring; andthis,

measured in degrees of rotation of the relative to the needles, togetherthe-distance iro'm vthethread guide at which theibr'eak in'the knittingthread occurs, is responsible 191' to the extent of the resultantpress-oil,

(01. 86-163) This invention relates to stop motions for knit- Theprincipal object of the present invention is to quicken the actionoi'the stop motion in order to prevent, or reduce to a minimum theextent of press-offs caused by a knitting thread breaking close to theneedles. 5 The principal obiectfnoted above, is attained by'anarrangement of parts in which the trip motor unit is made stationary anddirectly connected to the drive or power control unit, whereby. theelapsed time, above noted, between the l0 actuation oi. the trip motorand the operation of the drive control mechanism is eliminated; and bydirect electrical connections at all times between the detectors and thetrip motor.

The improvements constituting the subject 15 matter of the presentinvention will be readily understood from the following specification,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; of which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation oia conventional 20 pe. of circular knittingmachine, more especially a "Scott and Williams" wide, multiieed machine,equipped with a stop motion made inaccordance I with the principles oi.the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary Plan view of a portion 25 oi themechanismillustrated in Fig. 1, drawn to anenlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation 01' the mechanism shown in Fig. 2; 4

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 4-4., Fig.1, drawn toan enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of a detail oi the mechanism taken onthe line 5-5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a 'rear elevationoif the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, as lookingfrom the plane illus- ..trated by the line and arrows indicated at 6-6in Fig. 4; r Fig. 7 is a sectional elevationas taken on line 1-1, F18. i40 Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a current collector or trolley formingpart'oi the m 01 the present invention; r V

Fig. 9 is a-iaceview of an electric switch employed in connection withthe present inven- 5 tion; I

Fig. 10 is a detached perspective view of an operating motor unitforming part of the present invention;

Fig. 11 1am end view of the motor unit and 50 its supporting bracketwith a portion ot'the motor a my the p p se of illustration;' 355 Fig.13 is asectional plan view taken on the e line I3-- i3, Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a detail plan .view of the motor acti vated latch mechanismembodied in the motor unit shown in Figs. to 13 inclusive;

Fig. 15 is an'inverted plan view, partly in tion as taken on the line|5--l5, Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is an electric diagram illustrating the sec- ' connectionsbetween the various elements of the stop motion; I r

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the motor unit and associated parts asadapted for application to a Staflord and- Holt machine;

Fig. 18 is an end view'of the mechanismshown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a plan view partly in section as taken on the line lS-IS,Fig. 18;

Fig. 20-is a sectional elevation as viewed on the line 20-20, Fig. 18;

- 2-l---2.l,1ig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the motor unit for application to a rat Fig. 2 1 is a "sectional 'plan view taken on the line and associatedparts adapted "Leighton machine;

Fig. 23 is'a plan view of'the mechanism shown in Fig. 22;

Fig; 24 is a sectional elevation as viewed from the plane illustrated bythe line 24-44, Fig. 23;

' Fig. 25 is 'a-fragmentary plan "view, partly in section, illustratingthe bolt-actuating mechanism in difierent positions from thoseillustrated in Fig. 23;

Fig.126 is an inverted plan view hi. the motor unit bracket of Figs. 22,23 and 24. l Fig. 2'7is a view similar to Fig. 11 but showing a modifiedform of motor-unit and supporting :bracket; L Fig. 28 is a sectionalplan view taken on the a line 2828, Fig. 27; r

Fig. 29 is a sectional plan viewtaken en the line 29-2911 2?; and

Figs-. 30, s1 and 32 are detail perspective views of various leversforming part of the motor unit shown in Figs.- 27 and 28.

In 'e machine'illustrated in Figs. 1 to. 4 inclusiv the main bed plateof the machine is indicated at l.- The bed plate I is supported. in theusual manner, by legs or frame members 2 2. The

needle cylinder 3 issupported by and, in the present instance, is fixedto the main bed plate I, in the usual The. cam ring 4; in the pres-v entinstance, is rotatably supported by the bed plate I and'is adapted to berotated about the axis of the'needlec'ylind'er 3, in, the usual manner,

through the usual gearipglnot shown) frcm the main drive shaft 5 of themachine. A main driving pulleyi is adapted to r'evolve-treelyon thedrive'shaft -5 and to be operatively connected to the drive shaft, forrotating the same, in the present instance; through a suitable clut'chmechanisnr'l. Theiclutch I isco-operatively associated with the driveshaft 5 and with the driving pulley 6. The'd'riving pulley 3 is arrangedto be connected to any suitable source of motive power through asuitable belt (not shown) The machine illustrated in Fig. 1 alsocomprises a dial. cap, when arib machineis' used, or a cylinder headplate 10 when aplain machine is used.

The plate' l0 is.secured to}. a vertical shaft ll arranged in axialalignment with theneedle cylinder 3 and'cam ring 4, said shaftbeingfsecured :in the min I: of a-spider which also comprises arms l3,l3. The spider arms l3, l3, are supported at their outer' endsby-vertical posts, vll, which are secured in can l, for rotation'therearcane .for detecting subnormal tension or V with about the axisof the needle cylinder 3, whereby the plate It! is rotated in unisonwith the cam ring The plate III, in the present instance, carries aplurality of threadguides 15 by which a series of knitting threads, oneof which is illustrated at a: in Fig. 1, are fed to the needles (notshown) at relatively spaced points around the circumference of theneedle cylinder.

The spider hubpl2 also carries a vertically extending shaft or standardI6 in axial alignment with and, if desired, forming a continuation ofthe shaft H.

0n the standar from which the knitting threads at are respectivelydrawn. 1

.Secured to the upper end of the standard IB- is a casing 20 which isprovided with a series of radially extending arms 2|. At the outer endof each of the arms 2| is a thread guide and detector '22 over which oneof the knitting threads at passes and which, together with mechanismcontained within the casing 20, constitutes an abnormal tension andbroken thread detector for the thread 2:

:r, said abnormal tension and broken thread detecting mechanism beingclearly disclosed in detail in the above-mentioned prior patent, in viewof which further description herein will be un-.

I necessary. I s

The standard It, intermediate the spider l2 and casing 20, is alsoprovided with a casing 25 in'the form of-a hollow ring,. Secured to thering casing 25 is a plurality of radially extending switch housings 28which are respectively provided with arms 21. guides 28, 28respectively, through which the threads :2: pass in going from.thedetectors 22 to the thread feed guides [5.

Intermediate each pair ofthread guides 28, 28,

- each 'thread rpasses through an eye 29 which is is provided withradial'arms 32 each having at its conductive of electricity or of metal'suitably insulated from-the arms 32, The brackets 33, 33

collectively suppor'ta ring 34.

' .The ring 34 is electrically connected by a conductor B -to a switchelement 35 enclosed within the upper casing 20 and which is adapted tomake contact with either one or the other of a pair of movable switchelements 36 and 31 respectively which are arranged to be operated intocontact with the fixedswitch element 35 by actuation of 'one of thethread detectors 22 whenmoved downwardly, under abnormal tension in thethread a; 7 'or when moving upwardly as a result of the thread breakingat a point remotexto the feed guide IE or becoming'otherwise disengagedfrom the de- I6 is supported a spider or other suitable sup ort" H forthe yarn packages Supported by the arms 21;" 27 are thread The standardIt supports a hub 3| whch outer end a bracket composed of material non-'tector 22. Such contact between the switch elepments 35, 35 or 35, 31.will eflectstopping of the 1 with a conductor ring 40 which is mountedin the hollow ring and suitably insulated therefrom, as disclosed in thepreviously mentioned prior patent.

Electrically connected to the ring 48 are fixed switch elements 4| whichare adapted to be engaged by-movable switch elements 42, 42 respectivelycontrolled by the fingers 38, 38 and which, if the knitting threadbecomes abnormally slack or breaks, especially if such break orslackness occurs in the vicinity of the thread guide l5; swing outwardlyto effect coaction between the Such contact between any pair of theswitches 4|-42 will also eifect stopping ofthe machine in the mannerhere'nafter described. 1

The switch elements 42 and the switch elements 36 and 31 in the presentinstance are grounded in the metallic parts of the machine which, in thepresent instance, constitutes one portion of one side of the electricalcircuit of the stop motion, as indicated at A in Fig. 16. Also groundedin the metal of the machine is a switch element 45, illustrated indetail in Fig. 9, which is adapted to make contact with a fixed switchelement 46, while the machine is running, and to break contacttherewith-when the machine is manually or automatically stopped in themanner hereinafter described.

The switch element 46 is adapted to be connected by a suitable conductorA to one side of a Y source of current C. The conductor A, together withthe metal parts of the machine which are diagrammatically illustrated asaconductor A complete the one" side of the electrical circuit of thestop motion.

The second side B of the electrical circuit is connected to one side ofthe source of current C and to one side or end of a pair of coils orwindings of an actuating motor M. The opposite side or ends of saidmotor windings are connected by a conductor B to a trolley 50 whichmakes contact with the collector ring 34, during relative rotationstherebetween. The trolley 58, in the present instance, is maintained ina fixed position while the ring 34 revolves with the cam ring 4.

The trolley 58, in the present instance, is piv- 'otally mounted at 5|on a bracket 52 with a spring 49 therebetween andforcing the trolley 50v at all times into electrical contact with the ring 34. The bracket 52is adjustably carried by and on the upper end of a trolley pole 53, thelow r end of which is mounted in a supporting plug 54. The plug 54, inthe present instance, is threaded into an insulating bushing 55 Thebushing 55 is externally threaded and is secured in a correspondinglythreaded opening formed in one end of a trolley-supporting bracket 56. a

The trolley-supporting bracket 56 is provided with a hollow base 51which is secured to a platform 58, forming part of: a motor-supportingbracket 59; i

'The supporting bracket 59 for the-motor unit is arranged to be clampedrigidly to the base plate I- of the machine, in the manner illustratedin Fig. 11.

The lower end of the trolley pole 53 is threaded into the plug 54 whichis composed of electric conducting material and to which one end of theconductor 13 is secured bya screw 54a. The

opposite end of theconductorB is connected to the operating motor plate6| is secured to the bracket 56 by means of core H.

screws 62 (see Fig. 12). The screw also passes through one leg of anangle piece 63 and is provided with a nut 64 by which the angle piece 63is secured to the insulating plate 6|. The second end of the second partof the conductor B is connected by a bolt 65 to the second leg of theangle piece 63.

The motor M, in the present instance, is in the form'of an electromagnetand comprises a pair of coils 66,66 which are secured to a supportingbracket 61 by screws 68, 68 respectively. The bracket 61 inthe presentinstance is secured to a motor mounting in the form of a block 69 whichin turn is secured by a screw "to the base 51 of the bracket 56. Themotor M may be insulated from the metallic parts of the machine'in anysuitable manner, as, for example, by making the motor mounting 69 ofnon-conductive material or said mounting may be composed of non-magneticmaterial which will not interfere with the proper functioning of themotor M.

Each of the coils66 encircles a fixed magnetic The cores 1|, 1| areadapted to be energized by current passing through said coils 66, 66.Projecting across the axes of the coils 66 and magnetic cores 1| thereofis a movable armature comprising a plate I2 which forms one arm of abell-crank lever 13. The bell-crank lever 13, is pivotally mounted on astud 14 which is se cured in and projects vertically from the base 51 ofthe bracket 56. A spring I5 encircles the stud 14 and has one end inoperative engagement with the lever 13 and its opposite end inengagement with a pin 16 projecting vertically from the base 51, to movethe armature plate 12 away from the ends of the magnetic cores 1| uponde-en ergization of the coils 66. a

The bell-crank lever I3 comprises a second arm 71 which-under action ofthe spring 15 is normally held in contact with a pin 18mounted' in.

ing and setting pin 84. The pin 84 is carried on and by the outerend ofa locking and setting arm 85.

The arm 85 is secured to the upper end of a trip "shaft 86. The tripshaft 86 is pivotally mounted in suitable bearings formed in the base 51and in the bracket platform 58 respectively, and projects downwardlyfrom and below the platform 58.

Within the hollow base 51, and secured to the trip shaft 86, is a powerlever 81 to which is secured, at 88, one end of a motivating spring 89.The opposite end of the spring 89 is secured,

by a screw 90, to the platform 58, in the present instance. The tensionof the spring 89 tends to rotate the trip shaft 86 and swing the lockingand setting arm 85 in the direction of the arrow y, Fig. 14,'intocontact with a limit stop 9| carried by the platform 58, in the presentinstance.

The whole of the motor unit just described is enclosed within a casing92 which issecured to the base 51 of the bracket 56 and in turn to theplatform 58 of the clamp bracket 59 by means of screws 93.

, motor M causes the bell-crank lever I3 to swing about its pivot I4,causing the latch 11 to release the tumbler 89 which in turnswings aboutits pivot and releases the arm 85 permitting the trip shaft 88 to rotateand thereby effect stopping of the machine.

The trip shaft 86 is provided, below the platform 58, with a resettinglever 94 to the outer end of which is pivotally connected one end of aresetting rod 95. The' resetting rod 95 projects forwardly and itsforward end is slidably mounted in a bearing 96 carried by one of theframe members 2, in order that the latch I1, the tumbler 89, and lockingarm 85 may be reset after each release of the latch by actuation of themotor M, bringing the elements noted into the relation shown in Fig. 14,ready for'actuation to stop the machine again upon energization of themotor M by a closing of the circuit to either of the switches 35--36=or35-3I or 42-'--4I. 1

Also secured to the trip shaft 86 is a trip lever 91. The trip lever 91is provided at its outer .end with a pin or screw 98 arranged to operatein an elongated slot 99 formed in one end and extending longitudinallyof a link I99. The opposite end of the link I99 is pivotally connectedat IM to the outer end of a second trip lever I92. The trip lever I92 issecured to a vertical knockoff shaft I93 which is rotatably mounted inbearings I94 carried by the machine frame member 2. Also secured to theknock-off shaft I93 is a knock-off lever I95. The knock-off lever I95 isarranged to ride a cam surface I96 formed on one end of a retaininglever I9I. lever I9! is pivoted at I98 to the frame member 2. Theopposite end of the lever I9'I normally rests in a notch I99 which isformed in the upper side of a shift rod I I9adjacent a bearing II I inwhich the one end of the shift rod is adapted to slide. The opposite endof the shift rod H9 is pivotally connected at H2 to a clutch lever H3.The clutch lever H3 is pivotally. mounted at H4 to a bracket I I 5 whichis secured to the frame member 2 and is provided with bearings H6, H61for the drive shaft 5. The clutch lever I I3 is operatively connected tothe movable element of the clutch .'I at H! whereby movement of theclutch lever in the direction of the arrow illustrated in Fig. '2 willdisconnect the drive shaft 5 from the driving pulley 9 and permit saidpulley to revolve freely on the shaft 5, causing the stoppingof therotation of the cam ring 4 and the elements carried thereby.

Movement of the clutch lever I I3 in the direction of the arrow (Fig.2), when the retaining lever I.9I is rocked out of the notch I99 in theshift rod I I9, is effected by a spring'l I8 which, in the presentinstance, encircles the rod H9 and has one end secured to said rod or to.the lever H3 and the opposite end secured to a fixed porlever I27.

The retaining rod I I9 longitudinally, in the'same general direc tion asindicated by said arrow, and causes the end of the shift rod H9 whichlies beyond the notch I99 to engage a lever H9 which forms a part of themovable switch element 45. Continued movement of the rod H9 rocks theswitch lever H9 and the switch element 45 about the pivot I29'of theswitch element and moves the switch element 45 out of contact with theswitch element 46-, thereby opening the one side of the electric circuitof the machine after the machine has been stopped by the energization ofthe motor M and thereby preventing the motor M from becoming overheatedshould the machine stand idle for any considerable length of time.

The switch elements 45 and 45 together with the one end of the switchlever H9 are enclosed within a switch box I2I which is adjustablymounted on a rod I22. The rod I22 is carried by a clamp bracket I23arranged to be secured to the bed plate I, as illustrated in Figs. 1,2.and 3. Momentum of the elements of the machine, after theclutch I hasbeen operated to disconnect the drive shaft 5 from the driving pulley 6,would normally cause the cam ring 4 and the plate I9, on which thethread guides I5 are mounted, to drift for some distance before comingto a stop, in which case, should one of the threads :1: break close tothe needles, a press-off of the stitches with which the broken threadwould normally have been knitted would occur. In order to prevent such acondition a suitable brake is provided to arrest movement of the machineimmediately upon release of the clutch I.

For the purpose of arresting motion of the machine by momentum afterrelease of the clutch I, the knock-01f shaft I93 is provided with .abrake-release lever I25. The lever I25 is arranged to engage aprojection I26 on a catch The catch lever I2! is secured to a catchshaft I28 at one side of a bearing I29, in which the shaft I28 ismounted for oscillation. The bearing I29 is carried by a bracket I39which is formed as part of or is secured to the main bracket I I5. Atthe opposite side of the bearing I29 the catch shaft I28 is providedwith a catch I3.I. The catch I3I is notched at I32 (see Fig. 6) andengages a lug I33 formed on a brake-applying lever I34.

The brake-applying lever I34 is secured to one end of a brake shaft I35,said brake shaft being mounted in bearings I36 formed on or carried byeither the bracket H5 or the bracket I39. The brake lever I34 is adaptedto be rocked in one direction by a spring I31, when the lug I33 thereofis released from the catch I3I when the catch is rocked as a result of/arocking of thetrip shaft 86 in the manner abovenoted.

Formed on or secured tothe brake shaft I35 is an eccentric 138. Theeccentric I38 is encircled bya strap I39 which is provided with anadjustable reach rod I49- The reach rod I49 is operatively connected. toan arm I4I which, in the present instance, forms a part of the brakeelement I42. The brake element I42'is pivotally mounted at I43 on thebracket H5-I39 and is provided with a brake shoe I44 which is arrangedto engage any suitable circular surface carried by the drive shaft 5 andwhich, in'the present instance, is a grooved pulley I45 which normallythrough a belt m riding in the groove or said pulley.

From the above, it will be clear that energiza;

.tion of the motor M rocks the latch 11. This releases the tumbler 55which, under the influence of the spring 59, swings on its pivot andreleases the locking pin 54. Release or. the lookof the trip shaft 55rocks the lever 91 and causes the pin 95 on the lever 91' to engage oneend of the slot 99 in the'link I55. Continued motion of q the lever 91moves the link I55 longitudinally and through the lever I52 causesarocking motion of the knock-off shaft'I53 which rocks the knock-offlever I55 and brake-release lever I therewith; The knock-off lever I55ridingthe inclined cam surface I55 on the retaining lever I51 rocks theretaining lever I51 to release the shift rod I I5, whereupon the'springI I5 slides the shift rod III axially. Such axial movement of the shiftrod II5 swings/the clutch lever I I3 in the direction ,of the arrow Fig.2, and releases the clutch 1, whereby the drive shaft 5 is disconnectedfrom the driving pulley 5.

The rocking of the brake-release lever I25 through the brake-catch leverI21 and catch shaftl25 rocks,the brake-catch I3I to release thebrake-applying lever I34. The brake-applying lever I34, underthe'infiuence of the spring I31, rocks the brake shaft I35, causing theec-'- centric I35 through the strap I39 and reach rod I45 to rock thebrake element I42 and causing the brake shoe I44 to engage the groovedpulley I45, whereby momentum of the machine is arrested.

Resetting of the brake is eifected by a hand lever I41 secured to thebrake shaft I35 by which said shaft is rocked in an opposite directionfrom that noted above until the lug I33 on the brakebler snaps behindthe notch 19 in the motor-' activated latch 11.

The-stop motion is adapted to function also if and when a needle isimproperly positioned inv the needle cylinder 3 during rotation of thecam ring 4- with respect thereto, for example, if a needle is left inlatch-clearing position when 'it shouldbe in casting position as aresult of a broken butt, etc.

For the above noted purpose, the cam ring, or

some element rotatable concurrently therewith,

is provided'with at least one needle detector I55 and preferably one foreach thread feed.

Each needle detector: I55comprises a finger I5l horizontally disposedwith one end I52 projecting over the needle circles. The finger I5I ispivoted at I53 to a bracket I54 for swinging motion in a horizontalplane. secured, in the present instance, to the cam ring 4'by screwsI55.

.cessed at I51 to fit within a circumferential 'The second end I55 ofthe flnger I5I is re:-

groove' I55 formed in a trip bolt I59. The trip bolt I59 is slidablymountedfor vertical movement in bearings I55,- l5l' formed on thebracket The bracket I 54 is I54 and-is provided with a collar I52therebetween.

Encircling the trip bolt I59, between the bearing I55 and the collarI52, is a spring I53 which tends to project the bolt downwardlyimmediately upon rocking of the end I 55 of the detector. finger I5I.out-of the annular groove I55 in the bolt I59.

Downward movement of the bolt I59 causes the lower end thereof to dropinto one of a series of notches I54 formed in a trip ring I55 which Inormally lies quiesoentlydn a groove I55 formed in the bed plate Iconcentric to the axis of 5110 needle cylinder 3 andcam ring 4.

Dropping of the bolt I59 into one of the notches I54 of the trip ringI55 while'the cam ring 4 is in motion causes the trip ring to revolvewith the cam ring.

Lying in one of the notches I54 of the trip ring I55 is one end I51 of atrip lever I55 which is secured to the knock-pi! shaft I53 and which,when the trip ring I55 is turned with the cam ring 4, is rocked by saidtripring and in turn rocks the knock-ofl shaft I53 to stop the machinein the manner above noted.

Resetting of the trip bolt I59 is effected by merely raising said boltuntil the annular groove I55 therein is in the plane of the finger I5Iand by swinging the finger until the end I55 thereof enters'the grooveI55 in the bolt I59,

.The machine may be manually stopped by lifting the handle I59 formed onthe forward end of the. retaining lever I 51, whereby the lever I51releases the shift rod II 5 permitting the spring I I8 to swing theclutch lever H3 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. '2 to release theclutch 1 and thereby stop the machine in the manner above noted.Normally under manual stopping of the machine in this manner the brakeI44- would not be applied and the machine would stop when the momentumof the. moving parts is spent.

not be in position to engage the notch I59 in the shift rod II5 toretain the clutch condition.

Figs. 17 to 21 inclusive illustrate the actuating motor unit includingthe trolley pole 53, the trolley pole supporting bracket 55, the base 511 in its driving of said bracket, the housing 92 for the motor M' asbeing mounted on a platform 55a forming part of a bracket 5911 which,like the bracket 59 of the unit 'shownin Fig. 11, etc., is arranged tobe secured to the bed plate or other framework (not shown) of a Staffordand Holt machine.

.The trip shaft 55 projects downwardly below the platform 59a and isprovided with alever 91a arranged to operate a lever I52a which ispivotally mounted at I53ato the bracket 59a with a 'kn ck-oiflever I55apivotally mounted upon the pivot I53a and secured to the lever I52aforactuation thereby. I

. .The lever 91a functions in the same capacity-- as the previouslymentioned trip lever 91, to operate the knock-off lever I55a insubstantially I r the same manner as the knock-off lever I55 isactuated, said knock-off lever I554, in the present instance, beingconnected to' the ordinary mechanism of the Staiford and Holt machine bywhich the clutch thereof is released to disengage the main drive shaftfrom the driving pulley or in machines where tight and loose pulleys areemployed to shift the driving belt from the tight to the loose pulley toefiect stopping of the machine. Momentum of the machineis arrested insubstantially the same manner as above-noted. Pivoted at Ba and in thepresent instance 10 forming a part of the trip lever 1021'; is. abrakerelease lever I 25a. The brake release lever 125a in this instanceengages a brake catch operating element in the form of a pin I210. Thepin I211: is rigidly connected to the brake catch l8la- 5 which, in thepresent instance, is in the form of a sliding bolt andis provided withanotch. I320 adapted to engage a lug [33a on the brake-applying leverl34a. The brake-applying lever lilo is arranged to be swung in adirection to apply the brake by a spring l3'la. The brake-applying leveri34a is secured to a brake shaft l3ia having an eccentric |3 8a which isencircledbya strap I39a. The strap l39a is connectedby a reach rod 0a tothe brake element 2a which carries a brake shoe-144a arranged to engageacircularsurface on the main drive shaft such as a pulley having a flatface and secured'to the main drive shaft. The operation of the device91a to actuate the trip lever IOZa which in turn 35 actuates theknock-off lever IIISa -to effect release of the main drive shaftfronrthesource of power normally connected to said drive shaft which the stop'for operating the machine to motion is applied;

operation of the brake release lever I250- which I in turn functions tooperate the brake. catch l3la to release the brake-applying lever "4a.

The brake-applying lever l34a under the influ 5 ence of the spring I311;turns the brake-shaft I 35a and through the eccentric "8a, strap "in,

and reach rod 0a rocks the brake element Mia to apply the brake shoe144a to any suitable rotating element fixed to the drive shaft of themachine.

In the device-showifin rigsgaz to 26 inclusive, the motor unit includingthe trolley pole 53, its

supporting bracket 56, the base 5 1 of said bracket and the casing 92which encloses the motor M is secured to a platform 58b forming part ofthe bracket 59!) which is arranged to be'secured to the bed plate' orother frame member of a Leighton machine. In this jnstanc'e the tripshaft 8 projects downwardly through the platform 58b and is providedwith a. trip lever Mb arranged to operate a trip lever Illb which ispivotally mounted, at llltb to the bracket-59b.

Also pivotally' mounted 'at illb is almock-ofl lever 10512 which isbperatively connected toxthe trip lever 1021:, said knock-of! lever Nibbeingarranged to be connected to the normal mechaj. nism of theLeightonmachine by which the main drive shaft of the machineis released from thesource of power which normally eflects operation Operation of 'the drivelever 162a also effects lever ,llic which is pivotally mounted at [We tothe underside .of the platform 58b. Pivoted also at [03c and, in thepresent instance, forming a part of the trip lever lfl2c is a brakerelease lever I251). The brake release lever I25!) is arranged 5to'engagega brake catch operating element l2'lb which, in the presentinstance, is in the form of' apin integrally connected to the catch Iiib, said I -catch, in the present instance, being in theiform of a bolt.slidably' mounted in the bracket 59b. 10 'I'he'brake catch lb is notchedat I321) to engage 9. lug 8b formed on the brake-applying lever I341).The brake-applying lever [34b is mounted on a shaft Ilib and is arrangedto rock said shaft in one direction through the influence 5 of a springI831; when the brake catch I3": is

operated through actuation of the'trlp shaft 86 to release thebrake-applying lever Illb. The brake shaft I351) is provided with aneccentric- 1381). The eccentric "8b is encircled by a strap m I391),said strap being connected by a reach rod 0b to, thebrake element 2bwhich is pivoted at an to the bracket 5%. The brake element Il2b carriesa brake shoe lb adapted to-engage suitable circular surface fixed to andg5 ,rotating withthe main drive shaft of the machine. v r

The object of the present inv ntion as noted in the preamble of thepresent pc'eciiicaation,v i. e.

the quickening of the action of the stop motion so disclosed in theprior patent noted above, is attained by the direct mechanicalconnections between the electrically controlled trip motor and the powerand brake mechanisms, In the said prior patent the electrically-operatedtrip motor 35 controlled a trip bolt, similar to the bolt. I59 abovenoted, and when the trip motor actuated by some irregularity in one ormore of the knitting threads it released the trip boltwhereupon the tripmoved downwardly under the se- 0 tion of-a motivating spring. At thetrip bolt engaged the top edge of the trip ring and was required tomove, with the cam ring, some distance beforethetrip bolt dropped intoone of the recesses of the trip ring after which the trip bolt and tripring, thenmoving with the cam ring, were required tomove an additionaldis- ,tance before the trip ring effected release of the shift rod. Thenit required the shift rod a certain amount of time to shift the drivingbelt from 50 the tight to the loose pulley forinterrupting the a powerto the machine. Furthermore, the machine was not provided with a brake,consequently the machine would drift to some extent under its ownmomentumjbefore coming to a 55 ,full.stop.- v A Asa result oftheabove,fshould a. thread break close to the needles a press-01f uld'occur, the

extent of the press-off depen 1 upon how close to the needles thethreadbro e and howfar the 60 machine moved after the br =41 was detected andtransmitted by the trip .motor to the mechanical elements through whichthe interruption of power isveffected. t 3* In the present case, theaction of the stop motion is quickened because the trip motor is nowmounted on a stationary'part 9f the machineand coupled directly to thepower interrupting and V brake-applying mechanisms .of the machine; andbecause the drive of the machine is made through a quick releasingclutchrather than through'the slower acting tight -1 and loose pulley.Consequently, should a thread break. close to the needies the machine'is stopped instantaneously and nopress ofl occm's. or,.if the break "Iform oftrip motor. The purpose of. the structure shown in said figuresis to increase the amount of, power delivered by the trip shaft-86 andto decrease the amount of power necessary to release the trip shaft.

The inotor unit shownlin Figs. 27. to 321m- -cludes a main bracket 880.The bracket 880 is provided with an integral shelf or platform 88c and abearing 58d in which the trip shaft 880 is rotatably mounted. Q

The trip shaft 88a is provided with a power lever 81a to which issecured one end of a powerful coiled spring 89a, the opposite end ofwhich is secured to the bracket bearing 58d. When released, the spring88a'turns the shaft 8811 until the power lever 81a engages a-stop 8Ia onthe vided with alocking and setting arm 88. a This;

arm is provided with a locking and setting pin 88a which, when the tripshaft is set" fits in-arecess 831: formed in a tumbler lever 88.

The tumbler lever 88a is pivoted at 82aonthe platform 58a and isprovided with a rounded projection 8Ia whichgwhen the trip shaft 88a isset fits into a recess I82 of a holding lever I88, said holding leverbeing pivotedat I84 to.t he platform 58a. i

The holding lever I83 is provided with an arm I85 at the outer end ofwhich is formed a triggersurface I88. The trigger surface I8 engages alug '18avformed on one arm 11a of abell-crank latch or trigger lever13a.

The latch or trigger lever 13a is pivoted at, Ila

on the platform 58a and-is provided with 'an arm 12a in the form of aplate which lies across the axes of the coils 86a of the motor magnet Mand functions as the movable armature of the motor. The motor M ismounted'on a bracket 81a secured by a screw 68a to the platform 58a.

Fig. 28 shows the trip shaft 88a in its""set position with the variouslevers-18o, I88, 88a. and

85a in the positions above noted. It will be noted the trip-shaft 86a toturn under thepower-of the that the pin 84a on the locking and settinglever 85a engages the tumbler lever 80a relatively close to the pivot82a of said tumbler lever. The end 8Ia of the tumbler lever which'isdistantly situated with respect to the pivot 82a of the tumbler lever,engages the holding-lever I88 at a point .close to the pivot I84 of thelever I88. The trig-' ger surface I88 being distantly situated withrespect to the pivot I84 of the holding lever I88, engages the triggeror latch lever 18a. 8

The multiplied leverage noted makes it possible to increase the strengthof the power spring 880; andat the same time this multiplied leverage soeffectively .controls the increased power of the spring 89a that averyslight magnetic pull on the armature plate [12d of the latch or trigger88a by energizing the .coils 88a of the motor M with a very low voltagecurrent can instantly-release spring 89a to stop the machine.

'The trip shaft 86a is provided with strip lever above.

When the latch or trigger lever 18a is rocked, by ene'rgization-of themotor-coils 88, the lug 18a thereof. moves out of the path of movementofthe outer end I88 of theholdi'ng lever I88. The lever I88 swingson itspivot andreleases the bracket is applied. 7

" 3. In a stop motion for knitting machines, a

the samev as noted rounded end 8Ia of the tumbler lever 88d. Saidrounded end slides on the curved surface I81 of the lever I88 andthereby maintains contact with the lever I83 at all times.

The tumbler lever 88a in turning on its pivot releases the locking pin84a of the locking and resetting lever 85a from the recess 83a oftumbler lever 88a which slides along the curved surface I88 of .thetumbler lever 80a and thereby retains contacttherewith at all times.

the opposite direction along the 'curved surface I88 of the tumblerlever 88a until therecess 88a is reached, whereupon the pin 84a engagesa shoulder I88 on the tumbler lever 88a. This swings the tumbler leveron its pivot and causes the rounded end 81a thereof to slide along thecurved surface I81 of the holding lever I88 until the recess I82 isreached, whereupon the rounded end 8Io of the tumbler lever engages ashoulder I80 on the holding lever I88. This swings the holding lever I88on its pivot and permits the In resetting the shaft 884, the"pin 84aslides-in trigger lug 18a on the trigger or latch lever 18a I 88 of thelever I88 firmly, against the trigger lug 1841 of the trigger or latch.lever 18a, leaving the mechanism in its "set position ready for release'by a subsequent energization of the motor coils 86G; v 0 As shown inFigs-27 and28,the motor unit is housed in a casing. 82a. which rests onand is: secured to the platform 58a by screws 93a." If

desired, the trolley supporting bracket may be formed integral with thecasing 82a as indicated at56a in Fig. 28. I claim: a

p 1. In a stop motion for knitting machines, a unit comprising a bracketarranged to be secured toa rigid portion of the machine, an electrictrip motor carried by said bracket, and an'electrio currentcollector forsaid motor carried'by.

tric currentcollector for said motor carried by said bracket adjacentsaid motor and directly connected thereto, and means carried by saidbracket-and rendered effective by operation of 'said' motor for stoppinga machine towhioh. said unit comprising a bracket arranged to be securedto a rigid portion of the machine. an electric trip motor carried bysaid bracket, an electric current collector .for said motor carried bysaid bracket -adjac'ent said motor and directly connected thereto, a;trip shaft carried by said. bracket, means carried by said bracket andrendered effective by operation of said motor for turning said tripshaft, and an element on said trip shaft j: and turnable therewith foreffecting stopping of a machine to'which said bracket is applied. 4.. Ina 'stop motion for knitting. machines, a unit comprising a bracketarranged'to be secured to a'rigid portion of the machine, a base carriedby said bracket, an electric trip motor carried by said base, a currentcollector for said motor carried by said base, a trip shaft pivotallymounted in said base, motivating means for turning the shaft in onedirection mounted in said base, means carried by said base for holdingsaid shaft against rotation by said motivating means, means carried bysaid base and operable by said motor for releasing said shaft, and meanson and operable with said shaft for effecting stopping of the machine.

5'. In .a stop motion for knitting machines, a unit comprising a bracketarranged to be secured to a rigid portion of the machine, a base carriedby said bracket, an electric trip motor carried by said base, a currentcollector for said motor carried by said base, a trip shaft pivotallymounted in said base, motivating means for turning the shaft in onedirection mounted in said base, a tumbler lever pivotally mounted onsaid base, a locking lever on said trip shaft, a locking pin on saidlocking lever and engagcable with said tumbler, a latch engageable withsaid tumbler for holding the trip shaft against said rotation andoperable by said motor for releasing said shaft.

6.In a stop motion .for knitting machines, a unit comprising a bracketarranged to be secured to a rigid portion of said machine, an electrictrip motor, a rotatabletrip' shaft, a spring for turning the trip shaftin one direction, a latch holding said shaft against said turning andoperable by-said motor to release said shaft, and a plurality ofleverage multiplying elements between said shaft and said latch forholding said shaft against'the force of said spring and for facilitatingthe release of said shaft by a relatively lesser force applied by saidtrip motor to said latch, all supported solely by said bracket.

7. In a stop motion for knitting machines, the combination of anelectric trip motor, a rotatable trip shaft, a spring for turning thetrip shaft in one direction, a latch holding said shaft against saidturning and operable by said motor.

to release said shaft, and a plurality of leverage multiplying elementsbetween said shaft and said latch for holding said shaft against theforce of said spring and for facilitating the release of ing said shaftagainst the force of said spring and for facilitating the release ofsaid shaft by a'relatively lesser force applied by said trip motor tosaid latch, said elements including a locking lever secured to the tripshaft, and a pivoted tumble lever engaged by said locking lever adjacentthe pivot of thetumble lever and by said latch remotely to said pivot.

9. In a stop motion for knitting machines, the I combination of anelectric trip motor, a rotatable trip shaft, a spring for turning thetrip shaft in one direction, a latchholding said shaft against saidturning and operable by said 'motor to release said shaft, a pluralityof leverage multiplying elements between said shaft and said latch forholding said shaft against the force of said spring and for facilitatingthe release of said shaft by a rela-v tively lesser force applied bysaid trip motor to said latch, said elements 'includinga locking leversecured to the trip shaft, a pivoted tumbler lever engaged by saidlocking lever adjacent the pivot of the tumbler lever, and a pivotedholding lever engaging the tumbler lever remote. to the tumbler leverpivot and adjacent the holding lever pivot, said holding leverbeingengaged by said latch remote to.the pivot of the holding lever.

'10. In a stop motion for knitting machines, comprising electric threaddetecting means, an electric trip motor operable by said detectingmeans, a trip shaft operable by said motor, means operable by said shaftfor stopping said machine ing said brake, a brake catch maintaining saidbrake applying lever normally ineffective,and means operable by saidtrip shaft for releasing said brakercatch.

11. In a stop motion for knitting machines,

comprising electric thread detecting means, an

electric trip motor operable by said detecting means, a trip shaftoperable by said motor, means operable by said shaft for stopping saidmachine and including a power controlling lever, a brakeapplyinglever,means normally effective to swing said power lever to a position .tointerrupt operation of said machine, means maintaining said powercontrollever in position to effect operation of said machine, means normallyefifective to swing said brake-applying lever to arrest operationv ofsaid machine, means maintaining said brake lever against said arrestingmovement, a knock-off shaft operably connected to said trip shaft foroperation thereby, andmeans on said knock-off shaft for releasing saidpower lever retaining means. and said brake lever retaining means uponoperation of said trip shaft by said trip motor. I .12. In a stop motionfor knitting machines, comprising electric thread detecting means,yanelectric trip motor operable by said detecting means, a trip shaftoperable by said motor, means operable by said shaft for stopping saidmachine and including a power controlling lever," a brake-- applyinglever, means normally effective to swing said power; lever to a positionto interrupt operation of said machine, means maintaining said powercontrol lever in position to effect operation of said machine, meansnormally effective to swing said brake-applying lever 'to arrestoperation of said machine, means maintaining -.said brake lever againstsaid arresting movement, a knock-off shaft operably connected to saidtrip shaft for operation thereby, means on said knockoff shaft forreleasing said power lever retaining means and said brake leverretaining means upon operation of said trip-shaft by said trip motor,

needle detecting means, a trip ring operable by said needle-detectingmeans, and a lever on said knock-off shaft operable by said trip ringfor stopping saidmachine upon operation of said needledetecting means.

